In an email to media Friday morning, Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit commander Capt. Loyd Baker said investigators have made "a great deal of progress" in processing evidence found at the crime scene and continue to canvass the area to obtain information from residents.

"Area video surveillance footage is also being collected and analyzed," Baker said in the email. "Dozens of leads have been cleared and others are being still being followed up on."

Investigators have also discussed the case with Charles Dorsey, a retired FBI Agent and former criminal profiler.

According to Dorsey's initial analysis of the crime, it is "likely that the offender was young in age and lived in close proximity to the Ragsdale residence" and probable that the offender walked to and from the scene.

The profile also indicates that the person was familiar with the location and appears to exhibit an "extreme lack of criminal sophistication."

Baker said that this profile will not eliminate any potential suspect.

"An important factor in the profile is that the offender most likely will be displaying tremendous behavioral changes in the days following this horrific event," Baker said. "This behavior change will be obvious to the offender's peers, friends and family."

Baker said investigators are asking people to contact investigators if they witness those behavioral changes from a person they know.

On Monday, Baker said investigators believed Ragsdale, 73, was dead at her home near the eastern entrance of The Highlands for a least a few days before a neighbor found her on Sunday afternoon and called police.

The medical examiner who conducted an autopsy Monday determined the cause of death to be "sharp force injury," but further details on the victim's wounds and weapons used have not been released.

Ragsdale, who began working for UA in 1979, retired in 2006. According to UA, Ragsdale oversaw several construction and renovation projects as planning officer with the university's library administration.